Public health officials bring the best NACHHO to Sussex County

SUSSEX - On July 26, 2006, representatives of the Sussex County Governmental Public Health Partnership (SCGPHP) attended the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The SCGPHP is comprised of representatives from the Sussex County Division of Health, the Hopatcong Borough Health Department, the Sparta Township Health Department and the Vernon Township Health Department. The SCGPHP seized this opportunity to learn about performance improvement strategies from around the country that would meet the unique needs and concerns of Sussex County. Many community health programs and activities in Sussex County have proven successful due in part to travel beyond our County lines and the ability of leaders to “think globally and act locally.” Presently, the SCGPHP is engaged in a County-wide improvement planning process using a nationally recognized model known as MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships). MAPP and National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) users attended the Conference and shared their best practices. Those who attended from the SCGPHP gained valuable information that will be utilized for the Community Health Needs Assessment, ultimately resulting in a Community Health Improvement Plan for Sussex County. In a collaborative effort, both the NALBOH and the NACCHO offered interactive learning opportunities to help attendees gain knowledge of methods that would effectively market the contributions of local public departments, explore accreditation issues and partner with Local Boards of Health to achieve public health goals. “The NACCHO Conference provided valuable insight as to how others have utilized best practices to work collaboratively with community partners. This training has provided the SCGPHP with performance strategies that will help us improve our work in the County,” stated Herbert Yardley, Health Officer/Director of the Sussex County Division of Health. The conference also emphasized the importance of finding new approaches to inform the public about the department’s programs and services.